Russian Language School in Batumi

We are bringing NovaMova’s top-notch Russian instructors and proven teaching methodology to this beautiful Georgian city on the subtropical shores of the Black Sea. Each summer, tourists from all over the Former Soviet Union gather in Batumi to enjoy the sun. Most of them speak Russian. What a great place to learn Russian and to have a great vacation!

We immerse students in a Russian language environment. Our professional instructors, local host families, peer conversation partners, and exciting weekend excursions help us to accomplish that. NovaMova’s classes are held on the campus of our partner institution, the Batumi State Maritime Academy, conveniently located steps away from the beach.

5 REASONS TO LEARN RUSSIAN IN BATUMI

Russian language environment

You will dramatically improve your Russian by interacting with your host family and going on excursions with native Russian speakers.

NovaMova language immersion

Our teaching methodology is internationally accredited. We make the learning easy by providing the highest quality of language instruction.

Seaside location

Georgia is ecologically diverse and boasts some of the most incredible scenery in Europe. In Batumi, the average summer temperature is 25℃ (77℉). The water is pleasantly warm, yet refreshing.

Visa free travel

Citizens of the European Union, the United States, and some other countries do not need a visa to travel to Georgia. This saves you time, money and hassle!

Georgian culture and cuisine

Georgia’s rich history is reflected in its unique culture and fabulous cuisine. You`ll experience Georgian hospitality through the immersion in your host family, excursions around the Caucasus.

Courses and Programs

We provide group lessons that will help you to improve your knowledge of Russian language in classes led by excellent teachers as well as practice it with your fellow students. Applies for the group request of students only (5+ participants).

Apartment

Private

Apartment for your private and relaxed stay. Comfortable space, reasonable price. All apartments are located within 15 min of walk to the center. Quiet and friendly streets, though may be noisy if located near restaurants. Meals are not included, but there is a kitchen at your disposal.

Hotels

3 Stars

Convenient and affordable places to stay. Most of them are located on the sea line and others are in walking range from center. Hotels we offer: Plaza Hotel, Royal Venezia Hotel etc. Meals are optional.

4 Stars

Сomfortable rooms, convenient location. Rooms may vary on their capacity and price. Such hotels in Batumi are: Piazza Four Seasons, Batumi World Palace, The Admiral Hotel. Meals are optional.

5 Stars

Expensive and comfortable apartments.There is an international network of hotels in Batumi: Radisson, Sheraton, Intercontinental, Hilton. All of them are in the by the seashore and are 2 min away from central streets. Meals are optional.

Activities

In order to make your vacation memorable we offer many activities to suit the tastes of everyone. Different clubs of interest are available.

In order to make your vacation memmorable we gathered a complex of activities for everyone. Different clubs of interest are available for all of our students.

Conversational Practice

Russian Singing Club

Guest Speakers

Russian Speaking Club

Russian Conversational Practice (Peer coaching)

We offer personal conversational partners who could be your guides, coaches, and become your friends. Your partners will help you improve your spoken Russian, making it natural, idiomatic, and free-flowing. Local university students or people that share some interest with you will introduce you to their circle of friends and to local social life. Your new friends who will be there for you in the best tradition of hospitality.

All levels

Russian Singing Club

To experience the language as a more personal and culturally fulfilling experience is to be able to use it in all of its manifestations. We all like music and have noticed that songs stick with us for a long time. Singing offers a way to fast-track fluency: a song helps to learn vocabulary, pronunciation, and cultural contexts.

Many of our teachers are also great musicians, so they can explain the cultural background behind the song, respond to your questions about peculiar aspects of local traditions and practices. Learning songs is a highly effective and engaging exercise with that brings lasting results.We encourage students to bring their own musical instruments to make it even more fun.

All levels

Guest Speakers

To maintain the interest in learning the language it is very important to put this language in the cultural context, to describe the advantages of knowing this particular language. For example, in the 60-ies and 70-ies whole world was learning English mostly because people wanted to know what Beatles were singing about. That is why we love inviting lecturers that could tell our students about Russian culture, history, politics and art.

Levels: A2-B1

Russian Speaking Club

This complimentary weekly event will focus on helping the student access a wider turf
exploring the intrinsic value of perhaps once seemed rather trivial expressions and
vocabulary. Using them in conversations among the peer coaches or their friends or in
situations where you have to speak Russian will help you be more sociable and likable among
the local people boosting your confidence, fluency and rapport. Importantly it motivates the
student have his or her own language-conditioned emotional attachments.

Levels: A2-B1

Excursions and Tours

In addition to the academic component of the program, we offer optional tours and excursions to give you a chance to experience this fascinating and unique region.

In addition to the academic component of the program, we offer optional tours and excursions to give you a chance to experience this fascinating and unique region.

Batumi City Tour

Svaneti Mountains

Tbilisi and Kakheti

Mtirala National Park

Kutaisi and Vardzia

Armenia

Turkey

River Kebab Party

Gonio Fortress

Welcome Lunch and Batumi City Tour

On the first Monday of each new course, each new group will have a welcome lunch with staff, teachers, and peer tutors. In the afternoon, there will be an introductory Batumi city tour to help you get a feel for the place.

Batumi has a unique location on the seaside surrounded by mountains. Apart from beautiful landscapes, you will enjoy local traditional cuisine in cosy cafes spread all over the city. Batumi is also known for its vibrant night life.

Svaneti Mountain Excursion

Your journey will take you north along the subtropical Black Sea coast. Soon the road will stray from the shore and climb deep into the heart of the mountains. Your destination is an ancient village in Upper Svaneti, surrounded by breathtaking snow-capped peaks.

Mountain Hiking Tour

The excursion includes a guided hike to a picturesque alpine meadow. From here, you will see stunning views of some of the highest peaks in the Caucasus. You can also stroll among the pastures and fields below.

Upper Svaneti - a UNESCO World Heritage Sites

No trip to the area would be complete without checking out the 9th-12th century watchtowers located in one of the villages. These incredible works of early medieval architecture will take you back to a time when local clans feuded among themselves. In 1996, this mountainous region of Georgia was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Georgian Mountain Culture

All of our excursions have a cultural focus, and this one is no exception. In Upper Svaneti, you will experience the ancient culture and traditions of the Svan people through their food and hospitality. You may be surprised that the Svan have their own language, developed over centuries of living in remote mountain valleys. On top of that, the Georgian National Museum in Mestia will provide historical context.

Tbilisi and Kakheti

On this journey, you will travel by train from Batumi to Tbilisi, the capital city of Georgia and cultural center of the South Caucasus. You will be amazed by the beautiful architecture and stunning views that characterize the city.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Mtskheta
Your adventure will take you to Mtskheta, the Holy City of the Georgian Orthodox Church. The monuments and buildings of Mtskheta have been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The incredible architecture of sites like Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and Jvari Monastery are unforgettable.

Kakheti wine tour
After visiting the capital, you will travel to the famous wine producing region of Kakheti. Georgia is the birthplace of wine, and it has been produced here for more than 8,000 years. Georgian wine is famous for its unique flavors, found nowhere else in the world. In Kakheti, you will tour a 16th century wine cellar, sample delicious local wine varieties, and feast on the locally grown plums and peaches.

Art-Geni Music Festival
In addition to a city tour of the capital, this trip will include tickets to the Art-Geni Music Festival, a fantastic display of regional music, art, and culture. This annual festival features the best musicians from all over Georgia. This is your opportunity to experience traditional Georgian music.

Mtirala National Park

Mtirala, which means “Crying Mountain” in Georgian, is a fitting name for this subtropical rainforest. The area that contains the national park was famous for having the highest level of precipitation in the entire Soviet Union.

During the two day excursion to Mtirala National Park, you will be swimming under a beautiful mountain waterfall, eating delicious homemade Adjarian food, checking out a Georgian weekend cabin, and even sleeping under the stars (if the weather permits). While in Mtirala, don’t forget to try the local honey.

Kutaisi and Vardzia

This excursion will take you to Kutaisi, the legislative capital of Georgia and the Vardzia monastery. You will have a home cooked lunch in a nearby village on the way.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Gelati
While in the Kutaisi area, you will visit the 12th Century Gelati Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The frescos and architecture are unforgettable.

Prometheus Cave
Not far from Kutaisi, you will venture deep under the surface of the Earth by visiting the Prometheus Cave. Just a few millions of years creating these stalactite-filled underground caverns – and the nature has built for us this awesome masterpiece.

Vardzia Monastery
After departing the Kutaisi region, you will travel through the town of Borjomi, a name well-known throughout the Former Soviet Union for its mineral water. The village of Vardzia is your next destination. A hiking tour will take you to the Vardzia cave monastery, an enormous labyrinth of rooms and passageways carved into a cliff face. This is truly a masterpiece of human engineering. You will stay overnight in the village for a home-cooked Georgian meal. On the way back to Batumi, brace yourselves for the breathtaking views of Goderdzi Pass. With so many things on the agenda, this excursion is not one to miss!

Armenia

As long as you have travelled all the way to the South Caucasus, it would be a shame not to make the short hop down to Armenia. Armenia is an wonderful country with a fascinating history, unique culture, and breathtaking beauty.

Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia
Yerevan will be your first stop. Prepare to take a step back into the 20th century, as Yerevan’s architecture is reflective of its Soviet past. In Yerevan, you will have an opportunity to visit the famous Ararat Brandy Factory for a tour and tasting.

Winston Churchill thought that Armenian brandy was the best in the world, and we do not disagree. The company’s signature brandy is reserved for special occasions all over the Former Soviet Union. The trip to Yerevan will include a trip just outside of town to a restaurant, famous among the locals for music, dancing, and great food. Don’t forget to try the trout, an Armenian specialty.

Ancient Monasteries, Temples, and Cathedrals
While in Armenia, you will visit the awe-inspiring Geghard Monastery, founded in the 4th century by Gregory the Illuminator amongst the cliffs and canyons of the Azat River Gorge. The original Monastery was destroyed by the Arabs in the 9th Century, and the structures that could be seen today were built in 1215.

This same excursion will include a visit to the nearby Temple of Garni, a classical Hellenic structure. You will also visit the gorgeous Echmiadzin Cathedral, the main site of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Turkey

With the border crossing at Sarpi only 20 minutes from Batumi, it would be a shame not to check out Turkey. They may be neighbors, but Georgia and Turkey are entirely different in terms of culture, language, architecture, religion, and food.

Trabzon Tour
Your main destination on this excursion is Trabzon, the historical port city founded as a Greek colony in 756 BC. In centuries past, Trabzon was the regional hub of a booming slave trade. This excursion will take you to the site of the former Trabzon slave market. While in Trabzon, you will have time for free exploration of the city. Don’t forget to try the local cuisine which is no less delicious than its Georgian counterpart.

Sumela Monastery
Only a short drive from Trabzon is the Sumela Monastery, carved into a sheer cliff face. As one gets to the entrance to the Monastery, one feels as if an Indiana Jones moviehas become a reality.

River Kebab Party

This day trip to the local Adjarian mountains is a fun-filled day of swimming, sun, and Georgian BBQ (“shashlik” for you Russian speakers). The scenery, food, and company make this one of the best excursions of the summer!